US mulls response to cyberattack on Sony Pictures

The White House said it was considering a “proportional” response to a cyberattack on Sony Pictures, Reuters reported.

A government official said Thursday US investigators were looking into the possibility that Iran assisted North Korea in hacking the studio’s computers and leaking confidential documents, emails and unreleased films on the internet.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the US viewed the attack as “a serious national security matter” that President Barack Obama was monitoring very closely.

The hackers said they were furious over a new movie about the fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

On Wednesday, Sony said it was canceling the Dec. 25 release of the offending movie, The Interview. The hackers had threatened attacks on cinemas that planned to show it.

US experts said options for the government could include cyber-retaliation, financial sanctions and even a boost in military support to South Korea to send a stern message to North Korea. But the effect of any response could be limited, given North Korea’s isolation, Reuters said.

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